Echinacea plant named &#39;ifecsssal&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘IFECSSSAL’, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong flowering stems; numerous large single-type inflorescences with purplish pink-colored ray florets and reddish brown-colored receptacle spines; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Echinacea hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IFECSSSAL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant, botanically known as Echinacea hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘IFECSSSAL’.

The new Echinacea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new vigorous Echinacea plants with unique and attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Echinacea plant originated from a cross-pollination in August, 2015 in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida identified as code number 009-13-K024-05, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida identified as code number 009-12-K024-03, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Echinacea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in September, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea plant by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since August, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Echinacea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘IFECSSSAL’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘IFECSSSAL’ as a new and distinct Echinacea plant:

1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.

2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.

3. Freely branching habit.

4. Strong flowering stems.

5. Numerous large single-type inflorescences with purplish pink-colored ray florets and reddish brown-colored receptacle spines.

6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Echinacea are taller than plants of the female parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Echinacea and the female parent selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the new Echinacea have purplish pink-colored ray florets whereas plants of the female parent selection have purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Echinacea are shorter than plants of the male parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Echinacea and the male parent selection differ in ray floret color as plants of the new Echinacea have purplish pink-colored ray florets whereas plants of the male parent selection have orange-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of Echinacea purpurea ‘Little Magnus’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,973. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of ‘Little Magnus’ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Echinacea are taller than plants of ‘Little Magnus’.

2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Echinacea have more ray florets than inflorescences of plants of ‘Little Magnus’.

3. Plants of the new Echinacea and ‘Little Magnus’ differ in ray floret color as plants of the new Echinacea have purplish pink-colored ray florets whereas plants of ‘Little Magnus’ have much purplish red-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Echinacea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Echinacea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘IFECSSSAL’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet are close-up views of typical inflorescences (upper photograph) and typical leaves (lower photograph) of ‘IFECSSSAL’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 19-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Echinacea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were pinched eight weeks after planting and were 19 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea hybrida ‘IFECSSSAL’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida             identified as code number 009-13-K024-05, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida             identified as code number 009-12-K024-03, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 36 days             at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 42 days             at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright             and relatively compact plant habit, inverted triangle;             freely basal branching habit with about six lateral branches             developing per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 51 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 37.8 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 21.6 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Internode length: About 3.1 cm. Aspect: Erect to about             20° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Densely             pubescent; strigose, rough. Color: Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Basal leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About             12.5 cm. Width: About 8.9 cm. Shape: Ovate; slightly             carinate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire to             shallowly dentate; moderately to strongly undulate. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately pubescent,             strigose and rough; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Between 138A and 138B. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation, close to             148C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 147C.         -   Cauline leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 12.1 cm. Width: About 4.2 cm. Shape: Ovate to             lanceolate, slightly carinate. Apex: Acute to narrowly             acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             pubescent, strigose and rough; matte. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Between 138A and             138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;             venation, close to 148C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147C. Petioles,             basal leaves: Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by             4 mm. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,             lower surface: Mostly glabrous; margins and midvein,             sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Center, close to             144B; towards the margins, close to 137B. Color, lower             surface: Close to 145A to 145B; towards the margins, close             to 137A.         -   Petioles, cauline leaves.—Length: About 2.7 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm by 4 mm. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Mostly glabrous; margins             and midvein, sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Center, close to 144B; towards the margins, close to 137B.             Color, lower surface: Close to 145A to 145B; towards the             margins, close to 137A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Large single-type inflorescences with ray and             disc florets arranged on a capitulum; inflorescences             positioned upright above the foliar plane on mostly upright             and strong peduncles.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about twelve             developing and fully developed inflorescences per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; fragrance is sweet, slightly             acidic and pleasant.         -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from early July             to late September in The Netherlands.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about three weeks on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About             4.4 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 143A;             immature ray florets, close to 11D.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 12 cm. Depth (height):             About 5.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 4.5 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 155A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 38 arranged in             about two whorls at the base of the receptacle. Length:             About 5 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate;             carinate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Cuneate, fused at the base.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Aspect:             Horizontal to slightly upright, about 10° from horizontal.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 55D. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 56A and 56B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 56A; towards the base and venation,             close to 55A; color does not change with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 56A and 56B; towards the             base and venation, close to 55B and 55C; color does not             change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 750 per             inflorescence, arranged spirally at the center of the             inflorescence. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Tubular; proximally, 12.5% free, not fused. Apex:             Acute. Base: Fused. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close             to 143C. Mid-section and base: Close to 145C to 145D. Color,             fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 143B.             Mid-section and base: Close to 144D.         -   Receptacle spines.—Quantity: One per disc floret; about 750             per inflorescence. Shape: Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Apex: Close to 175A. Mid-section: Close to 163B.             Base: Close to 144B; proximally, close to NN155D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 130             arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width:             About 4 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; margins, moderately pubescent. Texture,             lower surface: Moderately pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to NN137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 17.3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 15° from             vertical. Texture: Moderately to densely pubescent;             strigose. Color: Close to 143A to 143B flushed with close to             144B and 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on ray and disc             florets): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About             4 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther length: About             4 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 200A.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17A.             Gynoecium (present only on disc florets): Quantity per             floret: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape:             Decurrent, unequal. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Style             length: About 6 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Ovary color:             Close to 145D. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Echinacea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Echinacea have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Echinacea plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good     garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind. Plants of the new     Echinacea have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about     35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 4. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘IFECSSSAL’ as illustrated and described. 